THINGS WE DO THAT DOGS HATE!

☹ Using words more than body language: Dogs might be able understand some words, but what they rely on to figure out what we mean is our body language.

☹ Hugging: Most dogs hate hugs. Rather than camaraderie, if a dog places a foreleg or paw on the back of another dog, this is considered an act of dominance

☹ Petting a dog’s face or patting her head: Like hugging, many dogs will put up with this if it’s someone they know and trust, but most dogs don’t enjoy it.

☹ Walking up to a strange dog while looking her in the eye: When you look a strange dog right in the eye, unblinking, you might be smiling and trying to warm up to them but the dog is probably reading it as an act of dominance or even aggression.

☹ Not providing structure and rules: Dogs want, need and love rules. Dogs really want to know what’s what according to their leader.

☹ Forcing your dog to interact with dogs or people she clearly doesn’t like: Read the body language she gives you when she doesn’t want to be around certain other individuals and don’t force it.

☹ Going for walks without opportunity to explore and smell: it’s important to allow a dog to have some time to explore her surroundings. Dogs see with their noses, and they place as much importance on their sense of smell as we place on our sense of vision for interpreting the world around us.

☹ Being boring: If your dog is making trouble — getting into boxes or closets, eating shoes or chewing on table legs — she’s basically showing you just how incredibly bored she is. (The thing I do that my dog hates is finish my dinner!)